Close by along the North Shore is Waimea Bay, and up the valley behind it is the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. The Center has beautiful gardens, natural vegetation, Hawaiian archaeological sites, and a waterfall at the end of the trail that runs whenever the rainfall is high.
For those of you who are Lost fans, this is where Kate and Sawyer had a bit of a frolic in the pool at the base of the waterfall and end up seeing dead people in the water. I believe that it was in Season 1? Well, this is that waterfall. Don't let it fool you though. Five of the seven times I've been up there, it was dry! This was a real treat, and I was glad my friend got to see it flowing.
On Friday night we went to a neighbor's 75th birthday party, and can I tell you, that was some party! I've now decided that our Polynesian friends know how to celebrate. There was a wonderful luau, with enough food to eat yourself into a food coma, an amazing singer who sang island music, and beautiful, spontaneous hula dancing by several ladies in our community who are amazing to watch. Below are a couple of video clips of the entertainment.
This last video was the grown children of the birthday girl, dancing the hula to a local song they used to sing when taking tourists down to Laie Bay (Hukilau Beach Park) for a traditional hukilau. Last year I blogged about a hukilau we went to, and this was a little song that went along with it. The clip is short, only about half of the song, but is a fun snapshot.
I want to throw parties like this, where I set up giant tents and haul out the eats. Why don't my friends, family, and neighbors bust out in cool songs and dance? Okay, so I don't know that I really want them to, but wouldn't it be cool if it WAS normal?
I've missed your Hawaii posts! The lulu looks like so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of when I lived in Cali and there was a Samoan branch that met in the same building as my branch. They were so much fun-especially at stake events!
ReplyDeleteHuki huki huki hukilau!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are great! You know I didn't know until the last season that a lot of Lost was filmed in Hawaii. Goes to show how I pay attention. lol.
ReplyDeleteThe video is great. It looks like a bunch of people having a great time. It would probably be really good for most of us to let loose like that once in a while instead of being stressed out.
Buckeye Girl -- Thanks for reassuring me. :) I want to post more, so maybe now I feel like I can???
ReplyDeleteJess --They totally have better parties than we do, right?!?
Heidenkind -- Yay! You almost have the song down. :) Now you can just get those hula motions and you'll have it!
Darlene -- Thanks. It's funny how many sites I've sat at, and then found out they filmed there. I've been rewatching the seasons just to see them. I do have to say though, that it removed some of the fantasy of the show for me, which isn't good. We really did have a great time. I would love to have get togethers like that more often, which is why I have to keep coming here! :)